Pfizer Process Engineer Interview Questions and Answers

Condenser area calculation is based on heat transfer requirements and drying time depends on factors like temperature, humidity, and airflow.

• Calculate condenser area based on heat transfer requirements and desired cooling capacity

• Consider factors like temperature, humidity, and airflow when determining drying time

• Use formulas such as Q = U * A * deltaT for heat transfer calculations

• Optimize condenser design to maximize

Water is used as a major part of utility due to its abundance, versatility, cost-effectiveness, and environmentally friendly properties.

• Abundance: Water is readily available in nature and can be easily sourced for various industrial processes.

• Versatility: Water can be used for a wide range of applications such as cooling, cleaning, and as a solvent.

• Cost-effectiveness: Water is relatively inexpensive compared to other u...read more

Scale-up is the process of increasing the production capacity of a system or process.

• Scale-up involves transferring a process from a small scale to a larger scale.

• Factors such as equipment size, operating conditions, and material properties need to be considered during scale-up.

• Examples of scale-up include increasing the batch size of a chemical reaction or transitioning from a lab-scale production to a pilot plant or

Reaction kinetics is the study of rates at which chemical reactions occur.

• Reaction kinetics involves studying the factors that affect the speed of a chemical reaction.

• It includes determining the reaction mechanism, rate laws, and reaction rates.

• Examples of factors affecting reaction kinetics include temperature, concentration, and catalysts.

Tip speed is the speed at the outer edge of a rotating object, calculated by multiplying the radius by the angular velocity.

• Tip speed is the speed at the outer edge of a rotating object.

• It is calculated by multiplying the radius of the object by the angular velocity.

• In the laboratory, tip speed can be calculated using the formula: Tip Speed = 2 * π * Radius * RPM.

• In the pilot plant, the same formula can be used to calc...read more

Heat transfer is the movement of heat from one place to another, while mass transfer is the movement of mass from one place to another. Both are important in various engineering processes.

• Heat transfer involves conduction, convection, and radiation.

• Mass transfer involves diffusion, convection, and molecular diffusion.

• Significance of heat transfer includes maintaining temperature in chemical reactors, HVAC systems, etc.

• ...read more

I have taken various actions in troubleshooting, including analyzing data, conducting experiments, and collaborating with team members.

• Analyze data to identify potential issues

• Conduct experiments to test hypotheses

• Collaborate with team members to brainstorm solutions

• Utilize problem-solving skills to troubleshoot complex problems

Power Number and Flow Number are dimensionless numbers used in fluid mechanics to characterize the flow behavior of fluids in different systems.

• Power Number is a dimensionless number used to characterize the power consumption in a mixing system. It is defined as the ratio of the power input to the fluid to the product of the impeller speed, impeller diameter, and fluid density.

• Flow Number is a dimensionless number used...read more

P/V ratio and tip speed impact scale-up selection in process engineering.

• P/V ratio affects the level of shear stress in the system, influencing mixing and reaction rates.

• Higher tip speeds can lead to increased shear forces and heat generation, impacting product quality.

• Selection criteria include desired mixing intensity, heat transfer requirements, and shear sensitivity of the product.

• For example, in pharmaceutical man...read more

HAZOP stands for Hazard and Operability Study, a systematic method to identify potential hazards and operability issues in a process.

• HAZOP is a structured and systematic examination of a process to identify potential hazards and operability issues.

• It involves a team of experts analyzing the process step by step to identify deviations from the design intent.

• The team uses guide words such as 'no', 'more', 'less', 'as wel...read more

As a Process Engineer, my job role involves designing, implementing, and optimizing industrial processes to ensure efficiency and quality.

• Designing and implementing processes to improve efficiency and quality

• Optimizing existing processes to reduce costs and increase productivity

• Troubleshooting issues and implementing solutions to improve process performance

• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure smooth oper...read more

Calculations include scale-up factors, equipment sizing, material compatibility, process optimization, and cost analysis.

• Determine scale-up factors to ensure the lab process can be replicated in the plant

• Size equipment appropriately for the larger scale production

• Check material compatibility with plant equipment and process conditions

• Optimize the process parameters for efficiency and quality

• Conduct cost analysis to det

Distillation rate can be calculated by dividing the amount of distillate collected by the time taken to collect it.

• Calculate the amount of distillate collected in a given time period.

• Divide the amount of distillate by the time taken to collect it to get the distillation rate.

• Express the distillation rate in units such as liters per hour or gallons per minute.